Sirloin Tip Roast
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This sirloin tip roast is tender and juicy with delicious beefy flavors! All you need are simple seasonings and slow roasting to get a mouthwatering dinner. Serve au jus with pan juices drizzled on top!
There are so many reasons to love a beef sirloin tip roast! Let me count the ways…
Sirloin tip makes an affordable dinner that can feed a crowd on a budget. It’s widely available in supermarkets including Costco for easy shopping. When it comes to the taste, sirloin tip absolutely scrumptious with rich and beefy flavors to make your mouth water! In terms of calories, it’s on the leaner side with less than 150 calories per 3-oz serving according to the USDA, or far less than a prime rib. Finally, you can use leftovers to make more dishes such as beef vegetable soup, roast beef sandwiches and more. Sound good?
Today we’re covering how to cook sirloin tip roast low and slow in the oven. This is one of my favorite sirloin tip recipes and there’s nothing fussy about it. You can serve it with mashed potatoes, veggies, a salad and your favorite condiments. Drizzle pan juices on top for a homestyle meal or dress it up for a holiday feast!
What is a Sirloin Tip Roast
Fun fact: sirloin tip is not actually from the sirloin primal. It’s a bit of a misnomer!
Sirloin tip comes from the Round primal behind the sirloin and at the front of the hindquarters. As this muscle gets lots of exercise, the meat is leaner and more flavorful. You may also see it labelled as Round Tip, Knuckle Roast, Ball Tip Roast or French Roll Roast.
An entire sirloin tip weighs between 9 and 14 pounds. Therefore, it’s usually cut into four different sub-primals that each have a different muscle:
- Sirloin Tip Center (rectus femoris): the most desirable cut with a tender rating according to Texas A&M’s Meat Science department, similar to top sirloin.
- Sirloin Tip Bottom (vastus intermedius and vastus medialis): the second-most desirable cut with tenderness similar to a chuck roast.
- Sirloin Tip Side (vastus lateralis): the least tender cut with an intermediate rating, similar to the flat iron cut.
While meat counters don’t list the sub-primal, I always ask the butcher for a sirloin tip center. Since these cuts are all the same price, you actually get better value for money this way.
How to Cook a Sirloin Tip Roast
There are multiple ways to cook a sirloin tip roast. The oven is one of my favorites with no fancy equipment required. However, you can also use a crock pot (or Instant Pot), grill, smoker or even sous vide with great results too. More on those options later.
When roasting a sirloin tip, it’s best to remove it from the fridge 1 to 2 hours ahead of time. This simple step takes the chill off so the meat cooks faster and more evenly, making it more tender come serving time. You’ll be cooking low and slow in the oven to get the most tender meat.
You’ll also want a shallow ovenproof pan fitted with a wire rack to hold the roast. If you don’t have a rack, simply cut some thick chunks of carrots or rings of onion to place underneath the meat instead.
Preheat the oven to 450°F. Just before cooking, pat dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture. Then rub the meat with oil (canola or another high smoke-point oil) followed by salt, black pepper and any other seasonings you’re using. Place in your prepared pan and into the oven it goes.
By starting with a 450°F oven, the meat will be nicely seared and browned. After placing the roast in the oven, immediately lower the heat to 325°F to cook for about 15 to 20 minutes per pound. The exact time will depend on the roast size, how cold it was prior to roasting, and your oven’s efficiency. Basting the meat every half hour will help to keep it moist!
Once it comes out, let the roast rest on a serving platter for 10 to 15 minutes tented with foil to keep warm (or covered with a large bowl in a pinch). This allows the juices to redistribute to make for juicier meat. As tempting as it may be, never cut into the meat during cooking or resting. The juices will escape and cause the meat to become considerably less tender.
TIP: When you’re ready to serve, slice against the grain to cut through any tough tissues for maximum tenderness (a sharp carving knife is very helpful here). Many recipes recommend slicing thinly to minimize chewiness, but I’ve had success with thick slices when the meat is good quality and cooked medium-rare.
How Long to Cook a Sirloin Tip Roast
As a leaner cut, sirloin tip is best cooked medium-rare with a warm red center. At this temp, the meat will be tender and juicy. The center should have an internal temperature of 130°F (54°C) when it comes out of the oven, with that number rising another 5°F or more while resting to reach 135°F (57°C).
How to check doneness? Simply insert the probe of an instant-read thermometer into the center and wait a few seconds to get a reading. Alternatively, you can use a wireless dual-probe thermometer for continuous monitoring during cooking. It will beep when the meat has reached your set temperature!
If you prefer medium doneness with a warm pink center, it’s crucial to take the roast out of the fridge a good hour beforehand to take the chill off. Otherwise, the outside will be chewy by the time the center is done. The center should have an internal temperature of 135°F (57°C) coming out of the oven, with that number rising 5°F or more while resting to reach 140°F (60°C). This roast will be slightly tender and less juicy, but still flavorful.
TIP: I don’t suggest cooking a sirloin tip beyond medium doneness. The meat is lean enough that it becomes chewy quickly when cooked medium-well (150°F / 66°C) or well-done (160°F / 71°C). The safe temperature for beef where bacteria have been eliminated is is 145°F (63°C) plus a 3-minute rest according to the USDA, although sirloin tip will unfortunately be chewy at this stage.
More Cooking Methods
If you don’t want to use the oven, here are some other cooking methods:
- Crock Pot Sirloin Tip Roast: This cut is ideal for slow cooking and only needs some salt and seasonings to become mouthwateringly tender. In fact, it’s great for Mississippi Pot Roast. Cook on low for 7 to 9 hours depending on the size of the roast.
- Smoked Sirloin Tip Roast: Preheat your smoker to 250°F. Rub the meat with oil and season generously. Use a dual-probe wireless thermometer into the center and place the roast into the smoker. Cook to your desired doneness or 130°F for medium rare.
- Grill: You can also grill this cut by following the same process as for the oven: start at 450°F and reduce to 325°F until it reaches your target doneness temp.
- Sous Vide: Rub the roast with oil and seasonings. Vacuum seal the meat and place in a 130℉ water bath for 8 hours or as long as 24 hours.
What is the best way to cook a sirloin tip roast? There are pros and cons for each method. Personally, I love the caramelized crust that forms in the oven. However, the crock pot and sous vide both deliver ultra-tender meat reliably. Try cooking it a few different ways to find your favorite!
Serving Ideas
Sirloin tip is delicious served with pan juices. Simply collect the pan juices and drizzle on top of the meat (note: you can use a gravy separator to remove the fat from the juices if you wish). Alternatively, you can use the juices to make a homemade gravy or red wine sauce to be fancier.
In terms of side dishes, there are so many great options to consider:
- Starches: mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, smothered potatoes, mac and cheese, boiled potatoes, baked potatoes, steamed rice, cauliflower rice
- Vegetables: carrots, green beans, parsnips, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and more (many of these veggies can roast in the oven at the same time as the meat)
- Salads: crisp green salad, caesar salad, pasta salad, coleslaw, potato salad, caesar salad and more
- Condiments: horseradish, whole grain mustard, bbq sauce, Béarnaise sauce are all options
Storing and Reheating
Sirloin tip leftovers are truly fabulous – you can use them to make beef vegetable soup, roast beef sandwiches, beef tacos, shepherd’s pie and more!
Storage: Let the meat reach room temperature. Then place in an airtight container or wrap tightly in foil. Refrigerate for up to 4 days. You can also place in a resealable plastic bag to freeze for up to 3 months for use in recipes (it will be too tough to eat on its own).
Reheating: This is the tricky part, as the meat can become tough if heated aggressively. Heat in the oven at 300°F for 20 to 30 minutes or until hot, basting once or twice to keep it from drying out. Avoid using the microwave or stovetop if possible.
More Roast Recipes:
- Crock Pot Eye of Round Roast
- Chuck Roast
- Top Round Roast
- Boneless Prime Rib Roast
- London Broil
- Tri Tip Roast
Sirloin Tip Roast
Ingredients
- 3-4 pounds sirloin tip roast
- 1 tablespoon oil, use a high smoke point oil like canola, sunflower, refined olive oil etc.
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
- 6 sprigs fresh thyme or rosemary, optional, or 1 teaspoon dried thyme or rosemary
Vegetables (Optional)
- 1/2 large yellow onion, cut into 1/2-inch thick rings
- 2 large carrots, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
- 3 stalks celery, cut into 1/2-inch chunks
Instructions
- Remove the beef from the fridge 1-2 hours ahead of time to take the chill off for more even cooking.
- Preheat oven to 450°F, turning on the oven's convection feature if available. Set the oven rack in the middle position. Set aside a shallow ovenproof pan fitted with a wire rack. (If you don't have a rack, try using the optional vegetables instead.)
- Pat dry the beef with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Then rub with oil on all sides followed by the salt, pepper and optional herbs. Optional: insert wireless dual-probe thermometer for continuous monitoring (see note).
- Add the optional vegetables to the bottom of the prepared pan. Use kitchen tongs to transfer the beef to the pan.
- Place the pan in the oven and close the door. Immediately reduce the oven temperature to 325°F. Continue cooking for 1 to 2 hours, or about 15 to 20 minutes per pound. Baste the meat every half hour or so by spooning pan juices on top. Start checking doneness half an hour before you expect it to be done.
- To check doneness, insert an instant-read thermometer into the center of the roast. A reading of 130°F / 54°C indicates medium-rare with a warm red center, while 135°F / 57°C is medium with a warm pink center. Cooking beyond these levels risks chewy meat.
- Remove the roast from the oven and transfer to a serving platter. Tent with aluminum foil to keep warm and let it rest undisturbed for 10 to 15 minutes. During this time, the juices will redistribute so the meat is more tender. Resist the temptation to cut into the meat, as juices will escape and cause it to dry out.
- To serve, use a carving knife to slice crosswise against the grain. Drizzle the pan juices on top or use them make gravy (Note: you can use a fat separator to degrease the pan juices if desired.) Enjoy!
Notes
- Roast: You can use a larger or smaller sirloin tip as you like by adjusting the roasting time. If you have a butcher, ask them for a sirloin tip center roast, which is the most tender.
- Doneness: Sirloin tip is a lean cut that can easily become overcooked. The best defence is checking the internal temperature using either an instant-read thermometer or a wireless dual-probe thermometer. If you don’t have one, follow the cooking times of 15 minutes per pound and remove from the oven as soon as the meat is lightly springy when pressed with your finger.
- Leftovers: store in an airtight container in the fridge for use within 3 to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months to use in recipes.
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I’m confused by Susan’s comment that she followed recipe at 450 for 15 min then 325. Recipe above does not say to do that. It just says preheat to 450 and turn it down to 325 as soon as you put roast in. Did the directions change from when she was referring to?
Many thanks!
Hi,
In the “How to Cook” segment you wrote, “remove it from the oven 1 to 2 hours ahead of time”. Pretty sure you meant fridge! 🙂
Hi Karl, Thanks for your note and duly updated!
Made this tonight. Followed directions. 450. 15 minutes, then 325 60 minutes
Highly overcooked! Still tasty but not as tender as expected.
Hi Susan, Thanks for your feedback. Have you checked your oven temp with a thermometer? If it’s even 25 degrees too hot, this roast will overcook. Hope you’ll try it again 25 degrees cooler.
Searing the meat first does not “Lock in Juices”, it’s been proven time and time again. A reverse sear will net you a far better bark on your roast.
Hi JSR, You’re absolutely correct and we’ve updated the post to reflect that. Searing creates browning for flavor but does not lock in the juices. Reverse searing is an option, but I don’t recommend it on this particular cut given the risk of overcooking. Thanks for your comment.
I was SOOO impressed with my roast beef using this recipe & I’ve been cooking them all wrong for “many” years!! It was perfect & lots of pan browning so even the gravy was AWESOME without having to add packets of flavoring! Years ago when cattle was fed grain & hay, the meat was amazing. But when they started to put the poor things in tiny feed lots (should be a criminal offense for animal cruelty!!) & as much as force feed them garbage pellets, the meat has been terrible! (I’m too old to become a vegetarian now!) At least this recipe helps make it much better!!
Hi Kathy, Thanks so much. Agreed that the corn feed these days leave a bitter aftertaste (in more ways than one). You can seek out grass fed beef however. Glad you enjoyed!
I have never been able to cook a good roast beef. I can cook prime rib, but it’s to costly now. I can cook a good pot roast in the crock pot. But, all my roast beef were always tough.
I used this recipe today. I had to guess at the time because I did not know the weight of my roast. Bought from Costco, 2 in package which I separated and threw out the label. But using my trusty instant read thermometer, I took it out of the oven at 130° (I overshot the 125°) and let it rest. I used onions at the bottom of the pan and had added about 1/4 cup red wine during cooking. Excellent gravy!
IT WAS FABULOUS! Perfectly cooked, tender and very tasty!
Hi Di, That’s amazing to hear and thanks for your comment. Taking it out at 125-130 is the key!
do i roast with lid on or off?
Hi Glady, You’ll need to the lid off to allow the roast to brown properly. If it’s getting dark sooner than you expected, you can add a lid during the latter half of roasting only. Good luck!
Would you please stop saying with au jus. Please. Au means with. It’s not necessary to say with with jus 🤦♂️
Can this be roasted in a Dutch oven or will it be more apt to not be crispy? Thanks so much
Hi Helen, Thanks for your question – it’s better to roast in a shallow pan for the best browning. A Dutch oven would make that more difficult, but you can use it if it’s all you have. Hope that helps!
Can cut up potatoes be added as well to the carrots and onions or should they be cooked separately? I have a almost 3lb (2.910) tip roast so 60 minutes should make it medium rare to medium?
Hi Tannis, Great question – you can absolutely roast the carrots and onions together in the same pan. Hope that helps and enjoy!
This was no less than perfect! Just last week I saw that Boar’s Head roast beef was selling for $15.99 a pound. I just knew there was a better way.
I found a sirloin roast on sale for $4.99 lb. and I used a three and a half pound roast, with an internal thermometer, and it came out perfectly!
I pulled the roast when internal temperature came to 115° and let it rest for 30 minutes. In that time it came up to 125°, which was rare. I then wrapped it in foil and hubby sliced it the next day and it was perfect in every definition of the word! Thank you!
Hi Wendy, Thanks and glad you enjoyed! 125° is the secret to keep it juicy as you found out.
This definitely is the easiest & least time consuming method for a great beef roast. Thanks for the reminder that sometimes simplicity really is key!
Hi Lori, That’s so great to hear and thanks for your comment!
Oh my! This is a stunning delicious recipe! I’ve had problems making pot roast in the past because it seemed difficult to get it done correctly. Now I know that I’ve always overcooked it.
This recipe is simple, and it’s important that one follows all the instructions, especially letting the meat rest after taking it out of the oven.
Mine came out a little rarer than we like, but it was delicious and we didn’t mind how rare it was because of the excellent flavor. I’ll be making this recipe many times in the future. Thanks for posting it!
Hi Heidi, Great to hear and thank you for sharing your experiences! Sounds delicious.
This was a winner – SO easy and SO delicious.
Also – the onions add an amazing touch to a leftover roast sandwich. I used some aged white cheddar, freshly toasted bread (french, baguette – whatever good artisanal bread is on hand) and mayo with dijon. It is one of my favorite sandwiches ever (and I love sandwiches haha)
Hi Sara, Great to hear and thanks for your comment!
How long do I cook for a 2 1/2 lb roast.I want it to be cook medium rare
Hi Mary, A 2 1/2 pound roast will take 40 to 50 minutes to reach medium-rare. However, each oven is different so start checking with a thermometer after 30 minutes to avoid disappointment. Thanks for your comment and good luck!
Making this now all I did is added a few more herbs and garlic for flavor, I also am not using a roasting rack so hoping it turns out just as good as I made it when I used my rack
Hi Ashley, Thanks for your comment. It’ll work without a rack, but try to turn it once or twice so it doesn’t stick to the roasting pan. Enjoy!
Followed recipe as per the instructions. Removed at 130 instead of 125. Still came out mooing after resting for 15 minutes.
Hi Amanda, Thanks for your feedback. If you measured 130F and let it rest, then it would have been medium rare, which means a warm red center. If you prefer a pink center, then please cook to 135F. Also check your thermometer is working properly, as some of them get out of whack over time.
Thanks for your tips, it turned out great.
Hi Brianna, Great to hear that and thanks for letting me know. Happy holidays
Will try it tonight and let you know what we think.
This turned out WONDERFUL! Even though I have a roasting pan, I used the thick cut onions for the roast to sit on. The roast was perfect when I pulled it at 125, the onions and drippings made the most awesome gravy. Thank you!
Hi Teri, So great to hear that and thanks for your feedback!
Is this covered in the oven?
Hi Kris, Thanks for your question. There’s no need to cover it, as you want the outside to sear (it’ll steam more if covered). Hope that helps and enjoy!
Had this roast for the first time – so simple. Took out at exactly 125 and it looked just like the picture. Ours was delicious and perfectly tender. With creamery potatoes and sauteed broccoli and corn on the cob. Yum. I’ll be back.
Hi Dean, You really made my day. Isn’t sirloin tip amazing? Glad you enjoyed and thanks for your comment!
Perfect Sunday family dinner and super delicious. The hardest part is to not cut into it right away. The resting period is important.
Hi Sandra, Thanks for your feedback and it’s so true. Don’t cut into it right away!